Junction of Routes 7 & 4, Cornwall Bridge CT 06754 860.672.6645
Wine of the Week 1.17.12
Clos La Chance
Ruby Throated Cabernet $14.99
Winemaker's notes:
A blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% merlot, 3% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petite Verdot.
The nose on this wine opens up with bright berry fruits. Plums, tobacco and a subtle floral note. Full and rich on the palate, blueberries, blackberries and dried cherries are the major fruit flavors in this wine. Dried plums and a little Anise spice round off the wonderfully smooth finish. Moderate Tannins make this a wonderful wine to drink with and compliment many foods.
Primus The Blend Colchagua Valley, Chile
Here is a bold striking rich blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Carmenere and Merlot. We like the exotic spice flavors and long finish of this Chilean red wine.
Colchagua is consistently producing wines of great quality and is receiving high praise.
Hawk Crest 2005 Merlot
Wine Tasting Notes
This Merlot displays great dimension in the nose with aromas of blueberry, ripe plum and black cherry accented by hints of violet, anise, pepper and dark chocolate. On the palate, upfront flavors of black cherry, plum and dark berries mix with medium soft tannins, sweet vanilla and well-integrated oak. A rich, silky texture and long, lingering finish are the final rewards. Slow braised beef short ribs with glazed garden fresh carrots will make an excellent pairing.
What to Expect
Merlot has gotten a bad rap as of late but there is no denying the wine's appeal. Packed with deep, dark berry fruit and nuanced hints of cocoa, herb and earth with a soft structure. Its velvety texture makes Merlot instantly appealing and an obvious alternative to similar, more tannic Bordeaux varieties
Niner Wine Estates
2008 Sauvignon Blanc
Bootjack Ranch Paso Robles, CA $17.99
This wine begins with a refreshing bouquet of melon and lemon rind. It is creamy and full in the mouth, tasting of tart kiwi, lime leaves, lemongrass and green apple, with a hint of dried apricot. It is crisp, with a pleasing mineral characteristic. Serve this wine with your favorite fish or seafood dish, or before dinner to whet your appetite
Chateau Moulin Favre
Morgon 2009
One of the smaller domains in the Cru Beaujolais region, Chateau Moulin Favre is in the sixth generation under the same family and boasts some of the oldest plantations with 60 to 80 year old vines. They employ the strictest artisanal methods including hand harvesting and destalking as well as a long 2 week maceration instead of carbonic maceration so common in Beaujolais.
The result is a wine with deep purple color, rich aromatics of cherry, kirsch and raspberry and full fruit palate similar to Pinot Noir of Santenay. All of their wine from the 2009 vintage has been sold out at the winery because of its excellence. Our price for this wine is ~20% lower than the incoming 2010 vintage because of exchange rates. The 2009 is a better vintage at a lower price and represents a great wine value.
Clos Dalian Garnacha 2008
Montsant, Spain $10.99
Red wines from the Montsant region in the Catalonian mountains of Spain are the next big thing from Spain (watch out, Priorat). So get drinking now, while the prices are still low and the quality just keeps getting better. Enjoy this light fruity red with pork, spicy ethnic dishes and red pasta meals.`
Chateau Roc De Levraut 2009
Bordeaux Superieur $9.99
Once in a while I can find a very likeable, smooth red wine in this price range, and this is one. Made from a blend of Cabernet, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, this ruby colored medium-bodied Bordeaux is smooth upfront and on the finish. From the Gironde region of Southern Bordeaux, this easy drinking red shows flavors of dark fruit and a hint of chocolate. Richard
Sean Minor Pinot Noir 2008
Carneros $16.99
Winery Tasting Notes: Our Carneros Pinot Noir is medium-bodied with blueberry, cherry, plum and light toast flavors. On entry, the wine displays blue fruit characters that are balanced with the lingering spicy/earthy notes. The vanilla and toast nuances integrate well with the silky round tannins which evolve into a lengthy finish
Ajello Grillo Catarrattao
Sicily, Italia 2008 $11.99
If you want a wine that has a little more richness than your average Pinot Grigio, or Sauvignon Blanc for that matter, here it is! Made from 100% Grillo – a widely planted indigenous Sicilian white-varietal grape that, when vinified pure (100%), offers an elegant and fruity wine. This wine has nice aromas of jasmine and tropical fruits. Grill up some seafood or fix a plate of shellfish and you’ve got a perfect match. It also pairs well with pasta and vegetables, white meats and baked fish.
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Charles & Charles Rose 2009
Columbia Valley, Washington $12.99
It’s time to get serious about your summer drinking so stock up on one of the best roses of the year. Rose’ wine is huge in Europe, in countries that have a Cafe’ culture. People sit in Cafe’s all night long and visit with friends while drinking wine. They need a crisp, light, but good tasting wine with a low or moderate alcohol level, and a good Rose’ fills the bill.
The Winery of Good Hope
South Africa
Chenin Blanc
In honor of the World Cup, we are still discovering fine wines from South Africa. This is a great summer picnic wine that will please everybody at your BBQ. Crisp, not too dry, medium bodied with nice fruit flavors.
Tarima Monastrell
Jumilla, Spain $8.99
CPS customers tasted this lively red wine with us last Saturday with enthusiasm. Made from Monastrall, also known as Morvedre in France, this wine blossoms in the glass with notes of licorice, chocolate and dark violets.
LLAMA
Malbec 2006 by
Balesco De Baquedano
Mendoza, Argentina $15.99
Cultivated from 100 year old vines of the Medoza foothills of the Andes, this Malbec is rich, ruby-purple colored and boasts elegant flavors of blackberries, plum and spices. 6 months of aging in French oak creates a good balance and structure. This is a fine all-purpose wine to serve with your favorite dishes.
Bodega Renacer Malbec Argentina
Punto Final $12.99
Punto Final's Malbec comes from vines more than 50 years old whose production is less than 8 tons per acre, resulting in concentrated and flavorful fruit. This wine is unfiltered resulting in distinct varietals qualities. Wine Advocate
Chapelle St.-ArnouxVacqueyras 2007
Cotes du Rhone Villages $14.99
Rich, robust texture, flavor, and intensity. It is a super, unfiltered effort. If you're looking for a wine to serve with steak, beef roasts, or lamb chops, this is a great value for price.
Score: 91-93. —Robert Parker, February 2009.
DUC De Foix
Cabernet Sauvigon Reserva 2003
Penedes, Spain $10.99
A hearty 100% Cab aged in oak 16 months showing ruby color, herbal and vegetal aromas, full-bodied with a long tasty finish. Serve this holiday with aged or smoked cheeses and red meats,
Domaine de la Touranade
Cotes du Rhone 2006 $14.99
An elegant, traditional Cotes du Rhone from a good vintage. You can't beat Rhones if you're looking for wine of character and complexity. The only type of wine to serve with game, venison and lamb.
Domaine Houchart
Cotes de Provence 2007 $11.99
A fresh rose with elegant flavors of red berries, mineral notes and a clean finish. Serve lightly chilled on its own or pair with most dishes, sushi, salads, pizza and mild cheeses. This wine is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Cabernet Sauvignon and Mourvedre
El Hada Verdejo-Viura 2008 $10.99
The Rueda Appellation belongs to one of the finest grape producing areas of Spain. Thanks to a continental climate, hot by day, cool by night, grapes ripen in perfect conditions. This crisp white has great length and a delicious mouth-filling softness, A classy white wine.Chateau Lescalle 2002
Bordeaux Superieur
A very good Bordeaux from a lesser vintage. 2002 is not known for superior wine, but this one grabbed our attention during an in-store tasting. Medium-bodied, nice inky-berry flavors and an easy finish.
GOOD VALUE RECESSION WINE
Castillo de Fuenmayor
Gran Familia
Rioja, Spain 2004 $13.99
A Spanish blend of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano. Medium-dark ruby color with first class aromatics consisting of smoked cedar and leather. This wine has remarkable depth of flavor and length for its humble price.
A super value from Rioja.
14 Hands Cabernet
Washington State 2006 $12.99
"14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon features aromas of cherries and currants with subtle hints of spice and dried herbs. Fresh flavors of red fruit are complemented by a touch of cocoa and accentuated by fine, round tannins." ~Winery NotesCartlidge & Browne
Pinot Noir 2007 California $14.99
Press Release Tasting notes
"The largest portion of the blend (79%) from the Greenfield/Soledad areas of Monterey County displayed lots of the true Pinot character: violet, rose petal, cherry & plum fruit with earthly mocha/herbal ntoes. The remainder of the blend (11% Napa Valley and 10% Russian River) were surprisingly brawny, with wonderful baked black cherry and fig fruit, mineral and licorice flavors bolstering it. And as usual, the Russian River segments were stars, adding refinement in the form of bright, juicy fruit and exotic hints of baking spices and its unique earthiness." -Winery
Domaine De La Griveliere
Cotes Du Rhone 2007 $10.99
The Maison Brotte, an independent family business for three generations was founded in 1931 in Châteauneuf du Pape by Charles Brotte, a pioneer in the bottling of wines of the Rhône Valley.
Chateau de Lugagnac
Bordeaux Superior 2005
Here is a great value – an inexpensive Bordeaux Superior from a tremendous vintage. This received the Wall Street Journal, January 8th 2008...Best of Tasting. The nose immediately says, fine stuff, with earth, tobacco and juicy fruit and acidity. Well balanced and nicely complex blend of 60% Cabernet and 40% Merlot. The wine is even better after an hour. Remarkably complete Bordeaux for such a young, inexpensive wine.
Chateau Tour St. Bonnet
Medoc 2005 $19.99
The Wine Advocate: This lower pedigree wine represents undeniable quality/value rapport in 2005. This vintage is so deep in quality among the better run, less heralded estates, that these wines should appeal to readers looking for terrific values from Bordeaux. Most of these wines are Merlot-based and will be drinkable young. Sleeper of the vintage. Score range: 88-90. Score: 90. —Robert Parker, April 2006.
Las Rocas Garnacha 2005 $10.99
Beautiful fruit and a dry finish
"The unoaked 2005 Las Rocas Garnacha is sourced from low yielding vineyards ranging in age from 70-100 years. It gives up attractive aromas of kirsch, raspberries, pepper, and damp earth. This is followed by a broad, full-flavored wine with a supple texture and no hard edges. Drink this pleasure-packed wine over the next 2-3 years." -Wine Advocate
Joseph Carr
Napa Valley
Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 $22.99
From J. Carr's Notes:
"Napa Valley is one of the finest growing regions in the world for this grape, and we share a European sensibility in blending our Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Petite Verdot and Cabernet Franc. We age our Cabernet Sauvignon between 20-28 months in a combination of French and American Oak and it is then bottle aged for almost a year.
Chapelle St. Arnoux 2005 $ 8.99
Cotes du Rhone
From one of the largest negociants in the southern Rhone, comes this great value in Cotes du Rhone. . 2005 is a fabulous vintage presenting big aromas, full dark fruit with a nice dry finish.
Vistalba Corte C
Mendoza, Argentina $14.99
Our staff recently attended an industry wine tasting and discovered this wine. It starts with a nice violet red color and intense red fruit aromas in the glass. There are notes of eucalyptus in the flavors and soft rounded tannins in the mouth. This Argentinian Malbec and Merlot blend ends with a balanced long finish. A good value
Carraia Aglianico Sicilia 2006 $9.99
From the island of Sicily we present Aglianico, an "Old World varietal grape". This red wine has a bouquet of dark wild berries and flavors of licorice and black currant spicy notes. A perfect wine you can serve with Mediterranean dishes, meats and cheeses.
Windy Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Central Coast $10.99
If you’re looking for a Cabernet of good value, stop here. This Central Coast Cab presents a light bouquet, good color, a nice fullness of berry flavor in the mouth, and rich tannins. After the holiday spending, this $10.99 price is very appealing.
Palazzo Della Torre Allegrini 2004 $21.99
A CPS store favorite, this wine is produced using an innovative RIPASSO method. Well-structured, smooth and rounded, this wine is shows a long, elegant finish. Deep ruby red in color, it has a delicious wild berry perfume, with the flavor of raisins. This wine will age easily for 8 - 10 years.
Domaine Moillard Pinot Noir
France Vin de Pays d'Oc 2005 $10.99
There aren't too many Pinot Noirs at this price that I would recommend, but this is a great value. The wine is made in the Burgundy style by Moillard, a Burgundy producer, in southern France near Languedoc. The Domaine Moillard Pinot Noir is light in color and style, yet shows nice tannins and aromas of plums. The flavors are full of earthy tones of mushroom, olive and the lively fruit of plums and raspberry.
Chateau De Serame 2004 $11.99
Corbieres, France
The Château de Serame has a core of black plum, blackberry, and earthy aromas, offset by notes of black pepper and licorice. It’s full-bodied, with firm tannins and good length. Serve with lamb, pork dishes, steak and stews.
Kios 2003 $15.99 Spain
90 Points - Robert Parker (Wine Advocate)
"The outstanding 2003 Kios (100% Tempranillo) is an exceptional bargain. Attractive blackberry and blueberry aromas are followed by elegant, medium to full-bodied flavors. Tremendous density, purity, and ripeness cascade over the palate in this seamless beauty. It should drink well for 1-3 years."
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Previous Wines of the Week:
2008 Aria Chianti Classico
ORGANIC Aria, by winemaker Stefano Chioccioli, has a red ruby color with soft garnet red nuances. On the nose an intense and complex bouquet with a good balance between fragrances of ripe red pulp fruits (plums and blackbarry) and spiced wooden notes.
A CPS favorite purchased by our long-time favorite salesman, Paul Cleary.
$18.99/bottle
